Blogtown, PDX

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

News Mayor: Ninja Biker “Welcome In Portland…”

Posted by Matt Davis on Tue, May 20 at 11:10 AM

You may not be able to camp on the sidewalks legally in Portland, but you’re welcome to ride through the streets downtown carrying a menacing samurai sword on your motorbike.

Charles Wood, the concerned citizen who witnessed a ninja biker on the loose down by Dante’s on SW 3rd this weekend, has been told by the mayor’s office that “as long as he’s not threatening anybody, he’s welcome in Portland.” Here’s the email:

Dear Mr. Wood: Thank you for emailing about the samurai you observed on a motorcycle. Mayor Potter has asked me to respond on his behalf. I can appreciate your concern. By all appearances, the samurai is not breaking any laws (including carrying a sword) and does not pose any immediate threat. Provided that the samurai does not engage in threatening behavior, the samurai is welcome in Portland. Sincerely, Jeremy Van Keuren, Public Advocate, Office of Mayor Tom Potter, Portland, Oregon

Wood, 38, a library worker, says he was “pretty scared” when he saw the ninja biker, “looking straight at me” on Saturday. “I was thinking of getting my camera out,” he continues. “But I thought he might have lopped my head off or something.” Wood, who is from New York, remembers a story of a man killing two people on the Staten Island Ferry with a samurai sword in the 1980s. “My sister thought that he probably just wants to be looked at,” says Wood. “But I don’t know about the sword. It’s unnerving.” The Staten Island Slasher wounded 11 people, if this is the same incident…downtown “livability,” indeed.

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Comments

Come on, Matt. Samurai have rights too, and we value diversity.

Not only is the sword legal, I wouldn't presume that the carrying of a sword implies an intent to use it irresponsibly (just as you wouldn't imply the same of a person carrying a firearm, though I'm certain they're used irresposibly far more often).

Jeremy Van Keuren

Posted by Jeremy Van Keuren | May 20, 2008 12:22 PM

Damn this country and its second amendment. Boston tea party my ass.

Posted by Matt Davis | May 20, 2008 12:59 PM

weak trolling, Matt

Posted by Ralph | May 20, 2008 1:28 PM

Actually, I don't think we've settled the question as to whether this was a ninja or a samurai. I thought he was a samurai. But if he's a ninja, we could have a real problem. I was doing some internet research and found these facts about ninjas (courtesy of realultimatepower.net):
1. Ninjas are mammals.
2. Ninjas fight ALL the time.
3. The purpose of the ninja is to flip out and kill people.

But seriously: I don't mean to seem dismissive of the complaint. Some people choose to dress aggressively and it's not unlike complaints I hear about punk rockers, goths, bikers, inventive trick-or-treaters, GWAR, you name it. I hope the notion (in principle, and in Portland) that this is not unusual will put Charles at ease.

~ Jeremy

Posted by Jeremy Van Keuren | May 20, 2008 1:32 PM

Am I the only one who thinks he's just a motorcyclist who had stopped by his local Ninja Gear Shop and was taking home a new, very long sushi knife?! Maybe if he was wearing a Ninja costume and riding a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle....

Posted by Wink Junior | May 20, 2008 2:12 PM

I have seen this same "samurai" and took a photo and lived. It should be noted that the sword is actually locked to the motorcycle which means that not only can the "samurai" not use the sword on a whim but neither can anyone else.

The owner of the motorcycle is in reality living out the fictional lifestyle from Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash novel of "Hiro Protagonist".

Enjoy life, live more dangerously, you will appreciate every minute you're still alive that much more.

Posted by Don Kruse | May 20, 2008 2:49 PM

I think you're right, Jeremy. He's technically, if anything, an imitation samurai biker. But a ninja biker sounds better, and it's a plausible synonym given limited space.

Posted by Matt Davis | May 20, 2008 2:59 PM

If the scary man on the motorcycle really WAS a ninja, you wouldn't have even seen him in the first place. :P

Posted by Ms. Anne Thrope | May 20, 2008 3:43 PM

Does anyone know if it's even a real sword?
I mean prop swords are dull hunks of steel with a nice handle (considerately cheaper as well); more of a bludgeoning weapon than slicing.
Doesn't sound like the guy pulled the thing out of it's sheath, which means he is certainly not menacing with the weapon if it is in fact a weapon rather than a prop.
It's decoration - get over it.

Posted by Dex | May 20, 2008 8:55 PM

You get over it. You yourself said you do not know if it is a real sword. It was not that serious of an article for you to be insulting people. Common sense is rare in this town.

Posted by the one | May 21, 2008 8:25 PM